The dynamics of data are changing from devices to data centres to cloud and data protection needs of enterprises are constantly evolving. There are certain practices that CIOs and CISOs must adopt to protect their business from data losses.
With digital transformations taking place across organization processes, how critical is it to rethink the enterprise data protection framework?
Digital has become intrinsic to business growth and data has become the core of everything an enterprise does. In light of this, businesses are now realising the growing importance of security. It has become essential for businesses to re-look at their data protection applications and to build innovative new applications that generate rich insights into business, industry and customers that will enable you to make informed decisions and quickly take decisive action as well as to protect this data against any breach.
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“CIOs and CISOs needs to deploy adequate security solutions along with encryption of sensitive data in order to ensure data protection against any kind of traditional as well as emerging threats.”
Ripu Bajwa
Director and General Manager
Data Protection Solutions, India
Dell EMC
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The dynamics of data are changing from devices to data centres to cloud operating environment. As data becomes larger and complex in the virtual environment, how fast and efficient is your data protection infrastructure, is the question. Increasingly organisations are realising the need to have standard practices for not only protecting their assets, but also the importance of data recovery. Hence, very soon, businesses will ensure protection of data from edge to core to cloud. This will help organizations to have seamless control over their data and be prepared for any kind of data braches. Businesses can also leverage advanced data protection solutions and separate copies of their data from the network.
How is data protection today different from traditional cybersecurity for businesses?
The data protection needs of enterprises are constantly evolving. It has now become very crucial for Indian organizations to focus on not only data protection but also data recovery. Recently, in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling privacy to be a fundamental right, there is a pressing demand for India to write laws on data protection and privacy. India witnessed disruptions from cyberattacks through a ransomware, WannaCry. These attacks and breaches threaten to trigger heavy damages, including loss of data and disruptions in business. They could also involve regulatory compensation. Therefore, policy, rules and practices must address cybersecurity and data breaches.
Businesses are now realising the multiple ways in which Indian businesses can ensure safety of their data. There is a lot of sensitive information within an organization and the best way to safeguard it is by limiting its access to it. Businesses are now focussing on proper authentication measures to access the data. They are setting up a good security solutions that are essential to prevent cyber-attacks in the cloud environment. In fact, most operating systems and software today have in-built encryption options. This will ensure an extra layer of security that the Indian businesses would need to safeguard their information.
Businesses now understand that the only way they can secure data is by implementing the right data protection and data recovery solutions, against any kind of traditional as well as emerging threats.
What strategies and practices can CIOs implement to ensure concrete data protection in their organizations?
There are certain practices that CIOs and CISOs must adopt to protect their business from data losses. To stay protected from threats like hacking and accidental data loss, it becomes essential to create protection copies. Sometimes, those protection copies are at risk too as hackers may take them down as well. CIOs and CISOs must look for more holistic, security-by-design solutions. They must also have a disaster recovery plan in place to ensure that the business can survive cyber-attacks and data loss. Deploying adequate security solutions along with encryption of sensitive data is among the other best practices that an Indian CIO/CISO needs to implement in order to ensure data protection.
Will GDPR and similar regulations around the world significantly impact how businesses implement data protection?
Yes. With the implementation of GDPR and other legislative regulations, businesses are now more aware and actively involved in implementation of data protection software. With new threats emerging each day, regulation and legislation are becoming harsher, to ensure organizations handle data responsibly. In fact, as more and more organizations across the region become digitally driven, this will invariably become a high priority for businesses across markets. IT infrastructure of businesses is facing persistent challenges to protect and secure their data center against cyberattacks and ransomware. To ensure data recoverability and availability, it is essential for them to keep abreast of the shifts in legislative compliance requirements.
With the implementation of GDPR, we are working closely with organizations and businesses, specially C-level executives to help them understand how breach of any legislative regulation will not just result in monetary repercussions but the potential loss in Data, which in turn becomes another just monetary repercussion.
With data privacy and protection a big issue today for governments around the globe, what steps can be taken to ensure protection and liability for citizen data in a highly digital economy?
Data is the new oil. With personal data being collected, analysed and moved across the globe, it has acquired enormous economic significance. Whilst it is important to seize the opportunities offered by the global digital economy, it is equally important to respond to consumers’ growing demands for stronger data security and privacy protection.
Governments, across the globe, are now working towards stronger legislations that not only ensure appropriate data protection measures for enterprises, but for individuals too. Going forward, individuals will have more control over their personal data and that in turn will increase trust on the digital economy.
However, one major step essential to ensure protection and liability for citizen data, other than regulations is awareness. As long as individuals are aware of how their data can be protected and how it can misused they are safe.
